Any sign of panic pricing?

[teelack 9,683]

Just wondered if there was any panic pricing appearing in Patts at the moment? Whilst the baht is still strong I am happy to take any advantage I can on the food and accommodation front.

[stevoman 2]

Just wondered if there was any panic pricing appearing in Patts at the moment? Whilst the baht is still strong I am happy to take any advantage I can on the food and accommodation front.

 

Now your being silly Jim, surely you know things work the opposite way in the Pattaya business community!

[teelack 9,683]

They do tell me Steve that there are large banners up at the Sabai complex and I also note that Sabai in are charging just over 700 b per night without breakfast. This seems a good deal for places that appear to be clean tidy and well positioned.

[BigDUSA 71]

They do tell me Steve that there are large banners up at the Sabai complex and I also note that Sabai in are charging just over 700 b per night without breakfast. This seems a good deal for places that appear to be clean tidy and well positioned.

 

When I was in Pattaya last March. I saw signs all over the place for 700 per night. I would think you can do better then their current offer. Email the manager and negotiate with him. I used to send out five emails to the manager's of four and five star hotel's and I'd tell them what I was willing to pay and the first hotel that got back to me would get my business. This worked well for me and BTW this only works during low season and times of civil unrest.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

When I was in Pattaya last March. I saw signs all over the place for 700 per night. I would think you can do better then their current offer. Email the manager and negotiate with him. I used to send out five emails to the manager's of four and five star hotel's and I'd tell them what I was willing to pay and the first hotel that got back to me would get my business. This worked well for me and BTW this only works during low season and times of civil unrest.

 

Which 4/5* hotels in Pattaya did that work for and what sort of prices did you get?

[BigDUSA 71]

Which 4/5* hotels in Pattaya did that work for and what sort of prices did you get?

 

I never did this with Pattaya hotels but I have done this in BKK and other cities and did well with the pricing. No I don't remember the prices I paid but I'm sure your willing to tell us what I paid years ago.

[stevoman 2]

They do tell me Steve that there are large banners up at the Sabai complex and I also note that Sabai in are charging just over 700 b per night without breakfast. This seems a good deal for places that appear to be clean tidy and well positioned.

 

For the sake of 340 BHT a night extra Jim, have a look at "Summer spring hotel" on Soi 1. there doing a pay 7 stay 8 nights deal. Large new rooms great pool area and very new I believe. The Sabai 700 deal I understand is for a smallish room overlooking the carpark.

Simply no comparision IMHO!

Have a safe trip.

[teelack 9,683]

Thanks Steve. I have read that this is a class place and it will be on my list to visit, should I get there. As the danger level is now Extreme on the government web site its all a bit up in the air.

[roomak 0]

Here is some panic pricing over the past 60 days:

 

Chang draft can at Carrefour and Big C: From 21 baht to 24 baht

 

Car parking behind Pittini, Soi Bukhaow: From 20 baht to 30 baht

 

Bread rolls at Foodland: From 9 baht to 10 baht

 

Needless to say that increases combined with currency slaughter of Pound and Euro reach mind boggling proportions!

 

Yes, there is a lot of panic pricing going on - roll the cosumer for as much as possible before the last one disappears!

[teelack 9,683]

Dont Thai logic piss you off, however this is still a legitimate question. Its bizzare that whilst Bangkok burns the baht stays as strong as ever and vacationers have to endure no insurance as well as stable pricing. Wheres the justice!

[SlipSlopSlap 186]

The 800/700 baht rooms at Sabai lodge are for rooms by the car park with a walkway outside that is used 24 hours a day by staff and guests. It would be a crummy location I think. (They do not show these rooms in their room desciptions)

 

I have stayed at their Dolphin pool cottage rooms at 2250baht last Nov. (It is currently 1850baht low season)

 

To test low season/riot price I emailed them on the 23 May and explained I wanted a 12 week stay low season stay in dolphin cottage room (12 july-1Oct), I offered 900baht inc breakfast.

 

Their response? They offered the room for 1800 baht inc breakfast!!!

 

I emailed them back and said I was surprised they would only give a 50baht reduction for an 82 night booking!!!!!! But their hotel, up to them.

 

They emailed back with with an offer of 1650baht inc breakfast.

 

They will not get my 82 nights of business.

[BigDUSA 71]

The 800/700 baht rooms at Sabai lodge are for rooms by the car park with a walkway outside that is used 24 hours a day by staff and guests. It would be a crummy location I think. (They do not show these rooms in their room desciptions)

 

I have stayed at their Dolphin pool cottage rooms at 2250baht last Nov. (It is currently 1850baht low season)

 

To test low season/riot price I emailed them on the 23 May and explained I wanted a 12 week stay low season stay in dolphin cottage room (12 july-1Oct), I offered 900baht inc breakfast.

 

Their response? They offered the room for 1800 baht inc breakfast!!!

 

I emailed them back and said I was surprised they would only give a 50baht reduction for an 82 night booking!!!!!! But their hotel, up to them.

 

They emailed back with with an offer of 1650baht inc breakfast.

 

They will not get my 82 nights of business.

 

They turned down a 82 night booking during low season. Did you email the manager or reservations? I find reservations could care less about a long term stay but the manager does. Let us know how you make out.

Edited May 30, 2010 by BigDUSA

[phomsanuk 1]

The infamous Thai pricing is typical of all Thai thinking. They do not plan ahead nor take future consequences in mind. This applyes to thier pricng, choices, driving, poitics, spending etc.

Some of this is due to Buddhism but is found in most warm countries where they do not have to plan for winter survival and becomes instilled in the culture.

[stevoman 2]

They turned down a 82 night booking during low season. Did you email the manager or reservations? I find reservations could care less about a long term stay but the manager does. Let us know how you make out.

 

Why should he when YOU never assist us in this department, despite your constant boasting about getting big discounts, but refusing to give even 1 example eg Hotel name,Hotel Managers name and % price reductions?

This of course does not apply to "Skyslops"!

[BigDUSA 71]

Why should he when YOU never assist us in this department, despite your constant boasting about getting big discounts, but refusing to give even 1 example eg Hotel name,Hotel Managers name and % price reductions?

This of course does not apply to "Skyslops"!

 

First of all I don't HAVE to prove jack shit to you or anyone else on this forum. I've told YOU how to go about getting the big discounts from four and five star hotels. Up to you to go get them.

 

What's a Skyslops? I don't stay at any place named Skyslops. I do stay at a quality guest house named Sky-Top and I pay the same price as everyone else.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Why should he when YOU never assist us in this department, despite your constant boasting about getting big discounts, but refusing to give even 1 example eg Hotel name,Hotel Managers name and % price reductions?

This of course does not apply to "Skyslops"!

 

He won't come up with any examples even though he said he does it successfully in BKK.

 

Anyone who has a reasonable understanding of how hotel pricing works will tell you the reason why 4* and 5* places won't discount below a certain level is that its against their longer term interests to do so. "It takes one minute to cut rates but years to reverse your actions". It's a rule that was

emphasised this week by, Bill Heinecke ...

 

"Many tourism officials said they thought it would take about six months for the industry to recover as long as there was not more unrest. However the Minor Group's Heinecke said travellers looking for steep discounts would be disappointed.

"For sure there will be deals around but if you think we're going to slash the rates of our hotels, I don't think that's going to occur," he said. "We learned long ago that if you take rates down, they're going to take a long time to go up."

 

Of course, if you've got time on your hands, you can go digging around to try and find the personal e-mail addresses of the general managers of the Sheraton, Dusit, Royal Cliff, Centara etc. However, don't bother with The Marriot - Bill Heinecke has already made clear what your answer will be.

 

FWIW, I spoke with the boss of Sabai Group around 2 months ago about pricing. The bottom line is that they had 3 pricing tiers previously - high, low and peak (Xmas/New Year). Now they have four or five so they can react quicker to the political events going on. The rates that are being promoted at the Sabai Hotels at the moment are pretty much rock bottom so any further discount is a bonus. I don't think that they'll worry very much that their policy differs from the opinions of BigD, whose only claim to fame on the subject is that he would be a leading contender for the title of Pattaya's least successful hotel owner ever.

Edited May 30, 2010 by CheshireTom

[CheshireTom 1,377]

The infamous Thai pricing is typical of all Thai thinking. They do not plan ahead nor take future consequences in mind. This applyes to thier pricng, choices, driving, poitics, spending etc.

Some of this is due to Buddhism but is found in most warm countries where they do not have to plan for winter survival and becomes instilled in the culture.

 

It's not infamous Thai pricing. Many of the hotels who won't budge very far on rates have ex-pat management.

[BigDUSA 71]

whose only claim to fame on the subject is that he would be a leading contender for the title of Pattaya's least successful hotel owner ever.

 

Another cheap shot from tommie.

[BigDUSA 71]

I pulled the following off of www.latestays.com:

 

Royal Cliff rack rate 11,118 discount 5,117

 

Marriott rack rate 8701 discount 4641

 

Sheraton rack rate 10,634 discount 4254

 

The above would be considered four and five star resorts and the discounts are considerable.

 

Hard Rock rack rate 5,800 discount 1825

 

Holiday Inn rack rate 5,771 discount 3287

 

The above would be considered three and four star resorts. Once again the discounts are considerable.

 

Years ago when I was doing a lot of family vacations, we would travel during the OFF SEASON and I would find out the hotel manager's email and I would email him directly and tell him I'm coming into town for two weeks and I'm looking for the best discounted rate he could offer. I also would let him know, I was sending emails to other hotels in town and whoever got back to me first with the best rate would get my business. Hotel manager's know what their occupancy rate is and has the authority to offer discounts. Reservations tend to be lazy and not respond or offer only a minor discount. I did well with a decent percentage off their lowest rates. BTW this only works in the OFF SEASON.

 

Given the OP is staying 82 nights during low season and this is after rioting in the streets of BKK, soldier's killing and wounding scores of people in the streets. Provincial capitals having riots, burning of buildings, etc. Can the OP do better with discounts? IMHO yes but the hotels will only offer minor discounts off the heavily discounted rates offered on latestays.

 

FWIW when I was in town last trip I stopped by the Hard Rock and asked what their best discounted rate was for three weeks. The desk clerk quoted me 4400 per night plus vat. I see their down to 1825 per night.

Edited May 30, 2010 by BigDUSA

[Obsession 571]

First of all I don't HAVE to prove jack shit to you or anyone else on this forum. I've told YOU how to go about getting the big discounts from four and five star hotels. Up to you to go get them.

 

What's a Skyslops? I don't stay at any place named Skyslops. I do stay at a quality guest house named Sky-Top and I pay the same price as everyone else.

 

Why would you stay at 5 * hotels in other countries, and a rundown hostel in Pattaya?

 

Why do you chase discounts elsewhere , but pay over the odds at Skytop? It has been proven time and again it's overpriced and inferior.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

I pulled the following off of www.latestays.com:

 

Royal Cliff rack rate 11,118 discount 5,117 ..... blah, blah blah ...

 

Discounted rates that are available to everyone - no need to e-mail the GM of the hotel.

 

Hotel manager's know what their occupancy rate is and has the authority to offer discounts. Reservations tend to be lazy and not respond or offer only a minor discount.

 

Their CRS has all the information required. It's called yield management.

Edited May 30, 2010 by CheshireTom

[BigDUSA 71]

Discounted rates that are available to everyone - no need to e-mail the GM of the hotel.

 

Their CRS has all the information required. It's called yield management.

 

Since I don't have the time or more importantly the inclination to dig around and find the individual manager's email. I used latestays as a fast way to see what's being offered currently. For a 3 week stay or 82 night stay in low season further discounts are available.

 

CRS may have all the information required but they don't have the authority to offer deep discounts. The manager does and in low season may well be inclined to offer deep discounts. Maybe not, that's why I send 5 emails out. At least one out of the five will be willing to deal for a long stay.

[SlipSlopSlap 186]

As a flollow up up to the discussion, I have a booking with BJ's in Soi 3 made last Feb for the 12 week stay. Rate is their standard long stay rate of 24,000baht as on their web site. I was happy with my stay there and 24000 was a good as I could find at that time with the right mixture of location/room size/quality/pool/girl friendly/no joiner fee (no, I tried negotiating at the time but they gently declined changing their price...maybe if I was only booking now I could negotiate a lower price, but hard to renegiate now after having committing to booking since last Feb)

 

I considered apartments, but the cost wasn't that low and when you add in laundry, electricity, water etc the monthly rate at BJ's was good, given it includes all standard hotel daily servicing.

 

I didn't want to stiff BJ's on their booking, but given the situation I had to at least see what would happen with my enquiry (and I really liked the Dolphin cottage rooms at sabai lodge) Sabai would have to come down to 1000baht a night max on these particular rooms, which they didn't look like they wanted to even come close.

 

With the aussie dollars losing 10cents american in the last month (fuck you Greek cunts), I can manage $3000AUD for BJs but not $6000AUD for Sabai lodge.

 

Looking forward to July, just booked my plane ticket an hour ago....

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Since I don't have the time or more importantly the inclination to dig around and find the individual manager's email.

 

I already predicted that.

 

I used latestays as a fast way to see what's being offered currently. For a 3 week stay or 82 night stay in low season further discounts are available.

 

Available from whom? Latestays offers agents rates which are lower than the hotels own discounted rate based simply on the amount of business they do. And you're suggesting that the GM is going to be impressed with your 3 week stay and undercut his existing multi-million dollar contracts? Didn't you also have fanciful notions about getting BMs deep discounts on Thai Airways at one point? How did that turn out?

 

CRS may have all the information required but they don't have the authority to offer deep discounts. The manager does and in low season may well be inclined to offer deep discounts.

 

Says who? Are you suggesting that the Reservations Manager in a 5* hotel doesn't have the authority to offer the best rates without reference to the GM? Your understanding of the commercial aspects of the hotel industry seems to be on a par with your understanding of the commercial operations of national airlines.

Edited May 31, 2010 by CheshireTom

[BigDUSA 71]

I already predicted that.

 

 

 

Available from whom? Latestays offers agents rates which are lower than the hotels own discounted rate based simply on the amount of business they do. And you're suggesting that the GM is going to be impressed with your 3 week stay and undercut his existing multi-million dollar contracts? Didn't you also have fanciful notions about getting BMs deep discounts on Thai Airways at one point? How did that turn out?

 

 

 

Says who? Are you suggesting that the Reservations Manager in a 5* hotel doesn't have the authority to offer the best rates without reference to the GM? Your understanding of the commercial aspects of the hotel industry seems to be on a par with your understanding of the commercial operations of national airlines.

 

Seems like we once again disagree. All I know I've been very successful negotiating discounts in low season with 4 and 5 star hotels.